This question comparing violin and fiddle is the all-time winner of FAQ’s for me.
When people hear my answer about the difference between the violin and the fiddle,
they usually say, “That’s what I thought.”

Itzhak Perlman refers to his Strad as a “fiddle.” And concert violinists sometimes
refer to their colleagues as “fiddlers.” But, this is just a loose way of speaking.

There are several key differences between violin and fiddle music.

The goal of violin music is beauty, power and mystery. The goal of fiddling is danceability.

Violin music is often harder to play than it sounds. Fiddle music is usually easier
to play than it sounds.

Violin performance takes more strength and concentration to play than fiddle music.

Fiddle music is usually improvised in part. Violin music is rarely improvisational.

It’s easier to learn how to fiddle than how to play violin.

In the beginning stage of learning, there is little, if any, difference between violin and fiddle. That comes later in the intermediate stage. The paths diverge then.

That’s why the Fiddle Tab system is such a great way to get started playing the violin. You can start playing the violin. Put all your effort into playing the violin.

Learn how to read music later when playing is not a big struggle. Reading music is much easier to learn when you can already play a little.

My students all start with the tab method if they are complete beginners. Later, they can and do learn to read violin music in standard notation. Some of these students play in school and community orchestras.

This web site is about looking at the relationship between violin and fiddle, fiddlers and violinists.